olrocknroller wrote:I know, we're discussing "quality" guitars here...
olrocknroller:
Actually, thinking back on the intent in my original post, I wasn't thinking specifically about "quality" guitars, principally because "quality" is such a subjective thing. But you're right...my OP has an implicit, underlying assumption that asks the question,
"When you buy a guitar sight unseen, how do you know you're getting a quality instrument you'll love, and not something you'll regret buying?" I have some of my own answers, and others have posted theirs. But your post pretty much nails it: The answer really depends on what your standards of quality are.
I suppose I have higher standards than some folks, having learned them through experience. I've picked up enough knowledge over the years to make my own guitars playable and tweak them for better performance, but as I've learned in the past, one sit-down with a serious guitar tech (
...I mean a professional, which I'm not) quickly reminds me that I haven't even scratched the surface of what there is to know. Much of what I've learned I owe to having been lucky enough to know a few incredibly talented and knowledgeable cats, who were generous enough to share some of their expertise.
Anyhow, if the online photos are very good (and with a few exceptions, they usually aren't) I might be able to tell whether the frets are dressed, or the pickup position and alignment is OK, or the truss rod adjustment is easily accessible, or the bridge has the kind of adjustability I want. But in general, my criteria for what constitutes "quality" are things that I can't know for certain about any given instrument until I actually lay my hands on it. So, dealing with a reputable vendor who sells instruments that fit MY definition of "quality" and will make good on anything that's not right is absolutely essential.
That kinda narrows the field, if you know what I mean.
I know that quality comes at a price, but I don't believe it has to be exorbitantly expensive. I appreciate the skills of those who know how to make quality affordable. It definitely is NOT true that quality and price are directly proportional. I know some folks who wouldn't consider buying a guitar that doesn't have a four-figure price tag, the assumption being that if it costs less than a thousand bucks, it can't possibly be any good. What utter nonsense.
Of course, there have always been people who have more dollars than sense. I guess that applies to parents who are quick to pull out the credit card and buy some piece of junk online, without knowing anything about guitars. Perhaps they're the same way about everything they buy, but I'm not. I research everything I buy...and I do the most research on the stuff I know least about in the first place.
But perhaps the propensity to do the work that it takes to replace ignorance with actual knowledge is a birth defect...or something. I've noticed that many people don't have the same affliction.
olrocknroller wrote:There, that's my rant for today...I feel so much better!
That's OK. "By their rants ye shall know them" is pretty much the operating principle of online communities, and as long as the rants remain civil (
...which they seem to do here, as far as I can tell), then I say rant on, brothah.
The kid's standing there with his fingers all taped up, saying, "Please sir, can you make this better?"
